Dishonored (Video Game Review)

Dishonored was the darling of the Electronic Entertainment Expo when is was announced last year, and lucky for fans who were eagerly anticipated its release, Dishonored stands up well to the lofty expectations gamers had for the title. Dishonored is an open world adventure game that plays heavily on role playing game mechanics throughout. What sets Dishonored apart from other titles however is in the way it allows players to experience the game how they want. Players dictate the way they will play the game from killing every enemy on sight, to stealthily sneaking past enemy encounters and everything in between, and character customization and progression simply makes it easier to build up your character in fighting ability or agility and unlock skills that will assist you in playing the way you want. Dishonored is a truly unique experience that all fans of action role playing games will want to pick up and play for themselves.

The gritty world of Dishonored is beautiful to behold but holds plenty of dark secrets that makes it an undesirable place to live in outside of the game's context. The city streets are filled with rats both literally and metaphorically speaking. The citizens of Dunwall are some of the sleaziest characters in recent gaming, and they are brought to life by a superb voice cast that includes the likes of huge Hollywood actors such as Carrie Fisher, Michael Madsen and Susan Sarandon to name a few. You play as the supernatural assassin named Corvo Attano who is on a mission to save and protect the heir to the throne after several would be rules take out the Empress of the city while under your watch. From here, a series of events will lead you to a showdown with the man behind the attack and plenty of encounters with deadly creatures known Weepers, who hold some zombie like traits of their own. Dishonored is a fun game that puts the narrative of the game at the forefront, and the ability to change the way you play the game only further strengthens the storyline by making no single playthrough exactly like another.

Saying Dishonored is a pretty game may be an understatement, as the city of Dunwall seems as authentic as any world in the history of video games, despite a rather dreary setting. The world is unique in its own right with plenty of supernatural locations and abilities on display throughout the game and advanced technologies on display throughout the game as well in a sort of steampunk meets fantasy mesh. The game is made even more immersive with a fantastic soundtrack from award-winning composer Daniel Licht's score that brings the best moments of the game alive like few other games can muster. Enemy encounters are always different and can see opportunities where different playstyles would benefit in various scenarios. One mission may be better suited for simply engaging overmatched enemies with raw power, while seeing outlines of characters through walls with special abilities and sneaking past them undetected might be better at times. Earning experience isn't just about killing enemies, and Dishonored does a great job of letting the player not be hindered by their choice of playstyle they choose to implement throughout missions or the entire game. There are over 50 unique abilities and traits for Corvo to unlock and equip throughout the game that gives more combinations to test out with each playthrough.

Dishonored isn't an overly difficult game, and Corvo feels a bit overpowered at times. The game is brutal and gory however, and you'll feel more powerful the longer you play the game. Summoning a swarm of rats to devour your enemies or sneaking up on an unsuspecting guard and dispatching him with a quick stab to the neck is just as rewarding the first time as it is the hundredth time you see it, but please, don't tell my psychiatrist I said that. In a gaming world full of linear storylines that make the player feel as though they've lost control of the gaming experience a lot of the time, Dishonored puts the freedom back with the player by offering nearly an infinite number of ways to play and experience the game, making it a true to the term RPG experience. Exploring the world of Dunwall while interacting with the interesting cast of characters and completing fun and non-repetitive missions is enjoyable to a level few games can offer, and Dishonored definitely deserves to be mentioned among the best games that 2012 had to offer. Purchase this game with confidence today!

Dishonored is now available from all major retailers for the MSRP of $59.99 and can be purchased for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Dishonored is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes & Strong Language. For more information on the game, check out the official Dishonored website.